Catholic Fire

The retro-modern love story "Old-Fashioned" comes out on DVD today, June 16. You can purchase it HERE . Here's my review:  An introverted, chivalrous small business owner and a sweet, extroverted Midwestern woman meet and attempt the almost impossible: an "old-fashioned" courtship in contemporary America. Amber, an attractive and intelligent young woman, is a drifter, a fun-loving, "free spirit" who moves from one town to another when the going gets tough and drives until she runs out of gas. This time, she has run out of gas in a town in Ohio, where she rents an apartment upstairs from Clay's antique shop. Amber is fascinated and curious about Clay’s old-fashioned ideas concerning women and his strong morals. She becomes so attracted to him that she conveniently invents accidents and repairs for him to fix, so she can see him on a regular basis. After a series of flirtatious episodes, at both her apartment and in the grocery store, h...

An introverted, chivalrous small business owner and a sweet, extroverted Midwestern woman meet and attempt the almost impossible: an "old-fashioned" courtship in contemporary America. Amber, an attractive and intelligent young woman, is a drifter, a fun-loving, "free spirit" who moves from one town to another when the going gets tough and drives until she runs out of gas. This time, she has run out of gas in a town in Ohio, where she rents an apartment upstairs from Clay's antique shop. Amber is fascinated and curious about Clay’s old-fashioned ideas concerning women and his strong morals. She becomes so attracted to him that she conveniently invents accidents and repairs for him to fix, so she can see him on a regular basis. After a series of flirtatious episodes, at both her apartment and in the grocery store, he realizes that, he, too, would like to get to know her better. The two, still in their twenties, have been tainted by the world and by their pas...

1. Make a homemade Valentine for your loved one. Be sure to mention on your card some specific ways they are special to you, i.e., "You always laugh at my corny jokes" or "You always compliment me on my cooking even though boiling hot water is a challenge for me." 2. Write a love letter to your Valentine on pretty pink stationary and tell him/her exactly why you love him/her and what makes them special. 3. Prepare a special meal and get dressed up. Use your best china, candles, and your linen napkins. Take out your best wine or open a bottle of champagne, or favorite non-alcoholic drink. (Chill the glasses beforehand.) 4. Purchase one long-stemmed red rose for your partner and compose a love poem to accompany it. Present it in an envelope sealed with a red foil heart. 5. Take a walk together, hold hands, and reminisce about romantic times in the past - such as the day you first met and fell in love, your wedding day or another special time for the two of...

While so many of us are entertained and fascinated by the lifestyles of royalty and their romantic adventures in movies, St. Elizabeth was a genuine princess, who served as an exemplary model of the heroic virtues of charity and humility. The authentic biography of her life, devoid of the legends and the rumors, is a true love story. Born in Bratislava, Hungary in 1207, Princess Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary and his wife Gertrude. Her aunt was St. Hedwig and her great niece was St. Elizabeth of Portugal. Elizabeth was betrothed at the age of four to Prince Herman of Thuringia (in central Germany) and grew up in his father's court. In 1216, Hermann, who Elizabeth was to marry, died; after this she then became engaged to Ludwig, the second son. The couple married when she was fourteen and he was twenty - one.  She loved him and bore him three children. They were very happy together and deeply devoted to one another. Ludwig was protective of his wife and...

This post is part of THE SONG Blog Tour, of which I am delighted to be a part, along with many other inspiring bloggers. To learn more and to join us, CLICK HERE . The Song is a beautiful love story based upon the writings of Solomon in his Song of Songs, which consists of a mosaic of love poems. It is filled with music, romance, and uplifting biblical verses. At the same time, it exposes us to the evil and ugliness of sin and its adverse effects on both the sinner and his relationship with God, as well as God's children.  The Song is a film that depicts the power of God’s passionate love for us and our love for one another, as well as the graces that accompany repentance, which offer forgiveness, healing, and redemption. As the movie opens, we are taken via a TV screen to a flashback of a country-western band performing on stage in 1981 Nashville, which transports us to the live performance. After their gig, the group is partying with heavy drinking. The star of the ban...

Award winning Ellen Gable’s new nove l A Subtle Grace is an intriguing historical romance with a plot that hooks you from the very beginning. It’s a fast-paced suspense novel about the O’Donovan family – an established, well-respected, but unconventional Catholic family—who live in Philadelphia in 1896. The main character is the beautiful 19-year-old Kathleen, a nursing student, who fears becoming an old maid and prays to St. Agnes for a sweetheart. She eventually falls in love with the charming son (Karl) of the local police chief.  Is Karl the man she is meant to marry? She seems convinced but her family has their misgivings.  Dr. Luke, the family’s new physician enters the picture. He is a kind, gentle man who is enamored with her. However, through an unexpected turn of events, a dark shadow is cast down upon her dreams. Not only is Kathleen’s romance story appealing, but all the subplots and themes keep the reader captivated with the story. Kathleen's younger brot...

It's time to plan ahead, guys, for that romantic day! If you haven't started yet, now is the time. 1. Attend a Night of Romance in your diocese, like the one offered HERE. 2. Go out to eat at her favorite restaurant, and read a poem you have written just for her. Then, present her with a single long-stemmed red rose. 3. Recreate your first date together, as they did in Parent Trap . Get dressed up and enjoy! 4.  Put the children to bed, build a fire and watch your favorite romantic movie together. Share your favorite  wine. 5.  Wake up extra early Valentine's morning, and make your wife breakfast in bed. Plan ahead, and cook something special like crepes or French toast. If work permits, go in late, and offer to get the kids ready for school while she sleeps in and enjoys her breakfast in bed. Add a favorite latte to her breakfast tray to show her you put in the extra time and thought to make her day. 6. If you want to cook for your wife but mornings...

Angela’s Song Author: AnnMarie Creedon Full Quiver Publishing Paperback: 270 pages Angela’s Song by AnnMarie Creedon is a beautiful and captivating love story set in modern day times in a small town in Missouri.  It is the story of Angela (Jel) Cooke, a pretty Italian-American widow and mother of three, who is lonely, despite her active schedule. In fact, she keeps herself overly involved in her church ministries to avoid dealing with the fact that her marriage was damaged and her husband, Devin, died before it could be repaired. When she meets Jack, the professor of a theology class she is taking, her pain is transparent to him and he challenges her to deal with it. Although Jel is attracted to Jack, she is hardly ready to become involved in a new relationship.  What follows is the touching, often amusing tale of how Angela heals and becomes whole again – able to love herself and others. Once I began reading this novel, I found it hard to put down. Creedon capture...

WALL-E is a charming, animated film from Disney Pixar that takes place 700 years into the future. A large city consisting of huge skyscrapers constructed from trash rises into the sky. It is there that we meet WALL-E, (a Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class), the last of the solar-powered robots, who with his binocular-like eyes, locates trash and compacts it with his square-shaped rusty body. Although he lives in a world filled with trash, he makes good use of it and his "heart" is filled with joy and romantic dreams. WALL-E is alone on the earth (with the exception of his pet cockroach) and keeps busy during the day compacting trash, while at night, he goes home to enjoy the collection of treasures he has salvaged from the trash -- a ring box, a plastic spork, and a lighter. His favorite knick knack is an old VHS copy of Gene Kelly’s "Hello, Dolly!" He gets sentimental watching the film -- especially the romantic scene -- and generates his ideas about love fro...

1. Into Great Silence - I predict that it will be a spiritual classic and be loved by audiences for many years to come. Into Great Silence answers the most frequently googled question, "Who is God?" as well as "How can I find Him?" It also answers, "How can I find true happiness?" All this is explained using minimal dialogue, but just by watching the way these monks live their lives. This is a must - see movie for everyone! The DVD is now out. 2. Bella is a beautiful film that has had a powerful impact on our culture! As a result of this film, lives have been saved. Bella was responsible for the birth of seven babies. And, this was all possible through a grassroots effort -- promoted by the culture of life. 3. Amazing Grace is a movie which emphasizes character, Christian values, and yes, even virtues – something that you rarely see in Hollywood films nowadays. 4. Ratatouille - Like a great recipe, this film has all the right ingredients – humor, d...

What are your favorite top ten romantic movies? ( For a long listing of romantic movies see my list here under #7 . However, please feel free to include others in your list. These are not listed in any special order: 1. Pride and Prejudice (2006) 2. Roman Holiday 3. Sabrina (1954) 4. Singin' in the Rain 5. Sleepless in Seattle 6. The Sound of Music 7. The Shop Around the Corner 8. The Farmer's Daughter 9. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 10. On Moonlight Bay What are your top five favorite romantic books (fiction or non-fiction) ? 1. Jane Eyre 2. Pride and Prejudice 3. Wuthering Heights 4. The Scarlet Letter 5. Emily's Hope (2006) If money were no object, where (on earth) would you like to spend your Valentine's Day and how would you spend it? In other words, what is your idea of a perfect Valentine's Day date? In Belize - a warm, sunny Carribean island with white sand beaches, clear blue water as far away from phones as possible. We would stay at our beautiful beach ho...

1. Make a homemade Valentine for your loved one. Be sure to mention on your card some specific ways they are special to you, i.e., "You always laugh at my corny jokes" or "You always compliment me on my cooking even though boiling hot water is a challenge for me." 2. Write a love letter to your Valentine on pretty pink stationary and tell him/her exactly why you love him/her and what makes them special. 3. Prepare a special meal and get dressed up. Use your best china, candles, and your linen napkins. Take out your best wine or open a bottle of champagne, or favorite non-alcoholic drink. (Chill the glasses beforehand.) 4. Purchase one long-stemmed red rose for your partner and compose a love poem to accompany it. Present it in an envelope sealed with a red foil heart. 5. Take a walk together, hold hands, and remininsce about romantic times in the past - such as the day you first met and fell in love, your wedding day or another special time for the two of you. 6. Go...